Lawn-mower.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. 4Patented Ju1y42, 1912.

L. BROWN.

LAWN MOWBR.

'APPLIGATION FILED umm. 1911.

Ik@ 0 j TM .0. t-

L. BROWN.

LAWN MOWBR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24. 1911.

1,03 1,417. Patented July 2, 1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f3/m. @MM/@M www @Un-Irren .STATES radiant onirica.

LEVI BROWN, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN M. LONTZ, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

LAWN lVIOWER.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July 2, 191?.

Application led April 24, 1911. Serial No. 622,992.

. mond, Indiana, have'` invented a new and ed on tapered tace engaging a series of usefulImprovement in Lawn-Mowe1s,wl1ich invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention is an improvement in lawn mowers and particularly of the ballbcaring type in connection with 'some features o the invention; and the primary objects of the invention are to provide an easy running machine in which there will always be maintained a light brushing Contact between the rotary cutter and the stationary knife; to provide an improved connection between the ends of the stationary knife and the side frames with the object of securing the latter with the maximum rigidity; and to provide an improved connection -between the side -frames and the ground wheels.

It is of prime importance to maintain a light brushing contact between the stationary knife and the rotary cut-ter, and to this end it is necessary to maintain constant the distance between the axis ot' the' rotary cut- .ter and the edge of the stationary knife.

This distance is inevitably aected by `wear of the bearings of the shaft of the rotary cutter', or any relative movement between the side-frames ofthe machine; and hence it is desirable to provide means to compensatefor such wear lof the bearings or racking of the side'frames, so that the light brushing contact between-the rotary cutter and the stationary knife may be maintained. The old ball-bearing construction employed a cone, plrovidedwith a tapered face, mountt e shaft of the rotary cutter, this balls mounted in a suitable holder. With this construction it was `found that there was had practically as great and as disadvantageous a Variation between the axis of the rotary cutter 'and the edge of the stationary knifer as with the old straight line construct-ion, for the surface of the cone engaging the ballsbeing tapered, considerable longitudinal movement 'of the shaftrot the rotary cutter was permitted under the varyn ing conditions of use. It-has been sought to overcome'this disadvantage ,by subjecting the bearing elements to spring pressure, in

' order to automaticilycompensate for wear f and .any rclatlve movement between the side.

Vously bind the bearings.I The bearings are iframes of the machine, but this expedient has only been partially successful; for it has been found that the springs, themaxb mum strength ot which is always being cxerted, hold the bearing elements so tightly together as to materially,increase the energy necessary to run the machine andte materially shorten the life ot' the bearings.

Directed to this objection. one of the object-s of theprcsont invention 1s to automatically control the application ol pressureto thebearing elements so thatA the 1i ht running oi the machine is maintained unter all conditions of use. Brieiiy stated, this feature-ol the invention consists in the pro-A vision ot a controlling; means whereby, when the bearingr elements have been brought into proper operative relation to compensate for any wear of Athe parts or racking ofthe frame, this controlling means automatically operates to immobilize one of said elements "I with relation to the shaft, and thus prevent binding of the bearings., ln the preferred construction, the bearing elements are subject to spring:r pressure, the springs acting to bring said elements into proper operative relation, and the controlling means automatically operates to prevent any further application of the spring power which would act to unnecessarily and to disadvantagethus substantially relieved ol? the spring pressure by the controlling means untilfurther wear of the parts or racking of the frame requires a further application of the spring pressure on the bearings to. compen-v sate therefor. 'lfheprefcrred formo'f controlling,r means .employed is a collapsible sleeve which introduced between the spring and one of the bearingelements-1,`

f .prefe ably the cone carried by the shaft of the rotary cutter-which sleeve is axially` movable in onedirection bythe spring until the desired engagement-between the bearing elements is effected, at which time the sleeve.,

is caused to automatically and securely' grip loro the shaft by a reflex action of the spring pressure transmitted to the sleeve through the ball bearings and the cone; and hence the bearings are substantially relieved and any Jfurther application of the spring pres- 1,05

sure thereto is prevented until :further wear 4or, racking ot the frame requires. A .further obieet of the invention is to (f increase the rigidity of the frame, lookin-g and racking. One feature of the present` object resides in so mounting the ground' wheels on the sideframes as to insure prac tical rigidit between these parts. A secondfeature oft is object resides in an improved means fori connecting the stationary knife tothe side frames, .whereby the latter are held in practical and unalterable parallelism under all conditions of usage; and the sta,- tionary knife is readily adjustable, with great-exactness, toward and from the rotaryI cutter.

The provision of .the controlling -means Vfor the spring pressure, obviates the neces`-l sity for any adjustment of the rotary knives after the machine leaves the factory, and indeed any adjustment is impossible unless the machine is dismantled; It will be understood thatthis controlling means mayhbe employed with bearings in connection with which no spring'is used.

The` invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the inventivev idea, and wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan View, partly in section, of the improved lawn mower; Fig. 2 is a view of the various elements carried 0n each end ot the shaft of the rotary eutter, said elements being pulled out or extended one from the other; Fig. 3 illustrates in sect-ion and end elevation the cone bearing member which is carried by the shaft' of the rotary cutter; Fig. 4. illustrates in section and end elevation the split sleeve which is the means for controlling the application of the spring pressure; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view, partly in elevation, illustrating one end of the shaft ot the rotary cutter and several of the elements carried thereby; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View partly .in elevation illustrating the rneans` for rigidly mounting a ground wheel to one of the side frames of the Inachine; Figi. 7 is an enlarged perspective view oft e sleeve and the cone member shown in section in Fig. 6. Fig. 8l is a .sectional view, partly in elevation, illustrating the Ymeans for connecting the stationary knife to the side-iframes of the machine; and Fig. 9 is` a'pers'pective view illustrating the means for rigidly securing together the stationary knife and the side frames ofthe machine.

Referring tothe drawings, 10, t0 indi cate two side frames of the macl'rin'e on which are mounted apy suitable ground is indicated by 16.

wheels 11,I stationary knife 12 and roller 13,.

said 'side `frames being connected together,

by rod 14.

The shaft for the rotary cutter blades 15 Said'shaft is mounted in Vthe side frames l0, and on eaelrend thereof carries a pinion 17, which engages rack18 carried by the g'roundivheel 11; and a pawlA 19 of any well known/ or desired .construction passes through a perforation fin the end .of shaft 16 and engages depresusual. The bladesv of `the rotary cutter are. suitably secured to hubs 20 and these latter are sions on the inside of said pinion, allv as is vao flxedf to shaft 16 in any desired manner.'-

En ging the outside face ot the hub on gaat Within which is'carried a'spriug 22 of any suitable construction, one end of which spring engages said casing andthe other end a split sleeve Q3 encircling. the end of` shaft 16. This split sleeve, which ispreforably of phosphor bronze, Iprojects into and isslidable along shaft 16 with a bearing element or cone 24. This cone is vprovided with a tapered face which engages suitable supporting means, preferably a plurality of bearing balls 25 carried by ag ball-cup or raceway 26. vVhile the coneQt and the split sleeve 23 areI movable longitudinally of the shaft 16, they are prevented' tion in shaft 16. `As will bc more tullyA sippreciated from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 4, the split sleeve L3, is tapered in cross'sertion, and is made flexible by the provision of splits or slots 28 provided in the thick- ."side of 'the machine is el4 casingl `from rotating relatively thereto by pin 27., `which passes through a transverse i'ieritoraaie l tively one to the other, or should theyparts become worn, the spring 22 will operate to move the bearing member 24 to'eouu'iensatel wear of the partsand to maintain constant the distance between the axis ot' the shaft on which the rotary cutter' is mounted and the edge of the stationary knife. This presv for this 'movement of the side trames ortho f sure is transmitted to said cone 24: through the split sleeve 28, and as soon as suflicient-` movement of the cono 24 is had'to compcn'- sate for the uelative movement ol the side `trames or the Wear ol the parts, it is vllesired that the application ot' (he spring pressure be cut. otl1 so that there will be no lninerossary biruling between the bearing elements, which binding would disadvauu tageously atleet the light running" ot' the ti C l0 and the dcpix.

machine. This cutting oli' or control of the spring pressure .is e'llected by the splitsleeve 2i", and takes place by a reflex action of the spring pressure which transmitted to the split sleeve through the balls 25 and conc member 24, which latter acts on the thinner end oft' saidspli't sleeve and causes it to prennplly :uid .securely grip the shattlh assoon as the racking olf the traine or wear olf the parts has been compensated lfor. 'lfhus the bearing are relieved and further application ol o spring pressure to the bearing elements prevented until further woor or racking of the traine demands it. The provision of this controlling means or split sleeve makes it possible to use a very much lighter and cheaper spring than has heretofore been possible. Formerly it was ner` sary to provide u spring of suflicient, strength to move theparts a sufficient distance under all the varying conditions of usage, with the result that too great an application `oi spring power was had, resulting in the disadvantages above noted.

The means for mounting the ground wheels ll on the side frames l0 are illustrated particularly in Figs. l, 6 undti'. lhese ineens have for their primary object 'ro el'l'ectivelyand rigidly connect the ground wheels to said side frames. To this ond a holt. 3l, which is screw-threaded at one end, passes through each side frame and is connected to the ground wheel by the means hereafter described, This bolt has a head 52 which provided with a depression in which a suitable projection 33 on the side traine l() is adapted to engage to position said holt. A cone 34 engages around an enlarged part of said bolt lll and the tapered ,tace oli this cone constitutes the bearing sur- :lace for theballscurredin the ball holder .lhis conc is provided with a plurality of recesses Si. preferably diametrically ar ranged, in `which enga;.;e projections 38 provided on a hollow sleeve 3S). Thisl hollow sleeve .has internal screw threads 40 and external screw threads All provided at one end thereof. A. screw vthreaded cone 42 engages the screw threadsl ell on said hollow sleeve, and la provided with a tapered surface which foi-nis a hearing for the balls 43 carried by the holder 44. provided with 'a plurality of transverse per- 'Eorations 45 which are adapted to be brought 'luto alineinent with a slot 46 arranged in the end of bolt 3l and slots 47 provided in the end ol hollow sleeve 39. When the ground Awheel il is secured to the approlniate side frame l0 a pin 48 is passed through the perforation in the cone iucn'il'icr 42 which is in alincmcut with the slots in the bolt and hollow sleeve and thus tine parte are held lxcdly in position. lu assembling these parts the bolt 5l is 'lirst pa d lhrmigh the side traine @sion in the. head 32 is cn- 'lhis cone member 42 is gagcd with the projection 33 on said side frame. The cone 34 is then slipped over the holt 3l and into the position shown in Fig.

6, after which' the hollow sleeve 39 is screwed onto the bolt 31, the internal screw threads 40 of said hollow sleeve engaging the screw threads on said bolt. When said sleeve has. been screwed down so that the projections 38 thereon are in close proximity to the re- (fesses 37 in the cone member 34, said sleeve 75 lis sprung so that said projections 38 engage -fthe recesses 37. The continued rotation of the sleeve 39 then results in the simultaneous rotation of the'eone 34.and, as will be appreciated, this rotation will act to lixedly clamp. the bolt 31 to the side frame 10 and also t'o tightly bind said ,side frame, bolt 31, sleeve` 39, and the cone 34 togetherl The Y. balls 35 carried by the baliluholder 36 are then engaged with the eolie 34 after which the ground Wheel 11 is placed in the position shown in Fig; l, a flange 49 carried by said wheel engaging the ball holder 36. This flange is provided with a socket 50 which is adapted to receive the holder 44 carrying the balls 43.y ,'After this holder is placed in position the cone 42 is screwed onto the sleeve 3S) until it is inproper posltion for the passing of thepin 48 through the alined slots in boltl and sleeve 39, and one of the perforations 45 in said cone. When the parts are thus secured together, the freund Wheels will be rigidly and secure y held to the side frames 10 and under all conditions of usage it will be found practically impossible to loosen the ground wheels from said side frames. Any wear of the wheel bearings that may occur during the life ol the mower may be taken upiby removing pin 48 and tighteniniY cone 42, und then passing pin 48 through s ots 46 and 47 and the perforation in cone 42 which is in alineinent therewith. To further insure the rigidity of said side frames, the stationary knife 12, which has a cutting edge 52, is provided with means for maint-.lining said side 'frames in accurate and fixed parallele ism. On each end of said knife there are provided two parallel flanges between which a bearing portion 54 of each side frame engages. This bearing 54 is provided Vwith carefully machined faces which engage the inside of flanges 53 .which are also care'- fully machined. A cylindrical pin .55 passes through said flanges 53; and surfaces 5G, 120 preferably formed integrally with the stationary knife, incline downwardly from said pin on each side thereof. The bearing portion 54 is provided in its lower'lfacc with an elongated semi-circular recess 57 which is' 125 adapted to engage'the-'pin which constitutes a fulcrum ridge, "as best illustrated in Figs. 8 and 0. Bolts 58 provided with nuts 59 pass throu di suitable oienings in said stat1onary kni e on either si c of said pin or 130 4o-tho appointed claims.'

Yiiileriini 'idge 55, and through enlarged poi'-4 tion fifi and fixedly hold said knife iii any position to which it, may be adjiietetl. The provision' of this cylindrical bearing' insures that aiiyniovenient of thc stationary knife to `adgilst; thesiin'ie will always loe on the Saaie' radins; and it, will 'oe understood that to afluatjsaid knife tonni7 desired liositioii it is only necessary to loosen oneliolt and tighten 10 the other, and vice-'versa'.

'4 In machiiieeI constructed as heretofore ileseribed, the derice is' adjusted at the factory once for all. 'Only the stationary kiiite l2,

the roller 13 and the ground wlieelrsy ll can 15 ,he reaililyreached. All the other parts are iiiareessible; no outside screws are. presented which would invite tinli'erin'g on tl'iepart of operatorszand. -unless the iiia'cliine'is'ilisniantled, no adjustnients--other than those affecting knito l2. roller 13 and the ground Fui-ther, the 'pro-v wheels: 11A are possihle. vision of the controlling.. nieaiii: or split sleeve S23 is also iii'lvantagooiis in that; the shaft of tire-,rotary cutter need not lie made `25 so perfectly and' to the exact proportions heretoforerequired; and this without any sacrifice either of the' durability or easy o'peration ofthe machine. v

`While aoherem described and illustrated,

the means for inaintaininv constantthe listance liotii'een the axis ot the rotary ciitter and the edge-of the stationary knife are. iiidirated as being ilnptrated 0n eiirh end of the. shaft of the rotary cutter, it hasl been 35, found that satisfactory results hafve been olitained'with said niezi'iis arranged only on `onev end of the riliaft oi said rotary cutter. f

While the preferred construction of theileviec has been heretofore s'peeilirally dc- 40 scribed, it i?, to he uiiileretoorl that the invention is not liiiiit'eil ground wheel mounting', while herein'de.

scribed and illustrated, are not herein claimed, the saine constituting the subjects* matter of divisional applications Serial Noa.

652,939 and 652,040, respectively, ho'th tiled (lrtol'ier 5th, 1911.

What l claim iszl. In a machine oft-ho character defleril'ied, the combination of s, frame, a 'stationary knife, a shaft, a eiitter mounted thcreon,.a

supporting element for said shaft, a bearing element..mounted on Said' Shaft and engage ingr said aizpi'iorting element, a Springr iii'n ranged to moi/ e one if said elemente with relation to the other, and means interposed. r

'Loenen nient `for controlling the application of power of said sprinf.

2. In a niaehineiof the Character described, the combination of a'franie, a lstationary knife, a shaft, a eiittezannoiinted thereon, a. supporting elenieiit for aid'shaft, a bearing element mounted on Said shaft and eng-sig@- ing said supporting;4 elena? t; ranged to niove one', ofsziitt`"ele1neiits with relation to the otherlnd means mounted on said 4shaft and interpoeed between said spring antlsaid hearing element and con trolling the :'ipplitatioi'i'of power of Said spring. A i

Il. 'ln a machine of the character described,

the combination of a traine, a Stationery kiii'le, a shait. a eiitter` inoniited thereon, a-r

siipportinp; element for said shaft, a bearing -eleinent morini-ed on said shaft and engag-V in,gr said supporting element, a Spring arf ranged to .more one of said elements with relation to the other, and `nicaiis engaging and movable with l@aid bearing element and controlling the application of power osiiid Iing said supporting element, a. spring ar ranged to niove one-oi" said 'elements with relation to the other. and a split sleeve interposed hetween said spring' and its associated element for eoiitrolling the application of power of said spring.

ln a niaehine, of the eliaraeter'descriheill,-

sinV

lil() the, combination of :i traine, a stationary knife, a shaft, a ent-ter ii'ionnt'ed thereon, o supporting element for saiflsliaft, a hearing element. iiiouiited on saidl` shaft and engag inf.,ir said supporting element, a spring arranged to nioi'e oiieot` said elements with relation to the other. and a .split sleeve mounted on laid @haft and interposed lict-ween said sprint? and said liearingieleinent and controlling t ie application of power of siiiilspring.

' ('i. in a machine of the character described, the -coinloination of a frame, a stationary knife, a shaft, a Cut-ter mounted thereon, a `Supporting.r element. for said shaft, ii bearing oleiiieiit. iiioiinted on said Vshattancl engaging said supporting: element, a spring arranged to iriove one relation to tlio'other, and a split sleeve en'- ,Lagring and iiioval'ile with said bearing ele of said elements with nient land controlling the application of .power of Said sprinir. f

7. In a machine of theeliaractzer described,

the combination of ii frame, a. stationary' y'on'said shaft Aand engaging said bail-leem'N l"n.sald .ball-contactlng elements; and meansgfitionary knife, a'shaft, a cutter mounted a spring encirclingsaidshaft and ing on saidV cone, a `split sleeve interposed between-feud spring ande ne and movabl'e longitudinally. of said s; 'with saidcone`,'

and means preventing thei rotationeof said` piit sleeige and cone relatiy'ely to said, shaft. y., l8.4 Ina law/ninower, the combination'with rotary cutter and vari-end frame of the man hina;l oi-n ball-bearing'supporting one end f `the'shaft,nf:the 'cutter in said frame, said bearing comprising two; ball-contacting elejffments,.one t a ballf cup or 'raceway associated with one of said arts, yand the otherv a cone associated with t e other of said par-ts,'and 'gan'gfof bearing ballsinterposed between adapted to exert yieldin Hressure tending ofrelatively move said' ga -contact-ing ele-` ments toward each other both make rm contact witnvthe balls and to thereupon `.utom'aticallyy 'diminish or relieve pres- 9'2. In a machine" of the-v. character dev,cribed,the combination of a frame, a sta,- onary '.knife','.aj`shaft,v;a vcutter mounted hereon, ai su' portinglment' for saidlsliaft," bearings ement Amginntedon said shaftv nd f 'Asaid "supporting element, cans. a-'s'sticfiled4with'l one' of said elements y u thmaticallyjperating to mmobilize said 'elementvrelatiye y to'saidshaft, and means '-:1 -for adjusting one'of said elements relatively .ato the other..." Y v ICLIn afl-machine of the character \dc- Bscribed', the ycombination of a frame, a statliereon, a supporting element for said shaft,

a bearing element mounted on said Shaft and engaging said supporting element,

40 'means interposed between one ofsaid elei l ments vand said shaft automatically' oper. atingto immobilize said clement relatively'l to said shaft, and means for adjustingy one of said elements relatively to `the other.'A

scribed, the combination of a frame, a stationary knife, a shaft, a cutterfmounted thereon, a supporting element for'sad shaft, a bearing element" mounted ony saidshaft and engaging said supportin element,l means associated with one of'sa d elements automatically o erating to immobilizo said @einem relative ya saai shaft, ,and maus.

,a bearingelement mounted on said shaft an lapsi `said;suppt'irting:elcrnii t gf Intcetimonyfwhcreof have sinned this'. 1.05

`scribinjg; Witnesses.

5,.12'n a machine of the character dc- ',t-hereon a supporting element for said 60 shaft, a bearing element mounted on said' shaft and engaging said 4suppo'rtin element, means interposed between one o said elements and said shaft automatically operat ing to immobilize said element relatively to ,saidsh'afta and means for adjusting one of said elements relatively to the other oper-Y ating through said interposed means.

.13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a` framepa sta- 7 0 tionary knife, a shaft, a cutter mounted thereon, a su porting clement for said shaft,

a bearing e ement mounted on said shaft .and engaging said supporting element, a collapsible sleeve `associated with one of said elements automatically o erating to immobilize said-'element vmlatively t o said shaft, and means operating through said col-, v lapsible sleeve-for adjusting oneof said ele-v 'ments relatively to the'other.I I 80 14.In a machine of ithe character describcd,.'the combinationofl a frame, a sta- :Lt'ionary Ilmiie", a shaft, a cutter mounted x thereo'xn'a supporting element for said shaft t element, cl-

engaging-said supportin le sleeve interpose v said elcmentsland said shaft""ailtomatical ly yoperating to immobilize'saidjelemcntfrela-.-

tively to said shaft, and meansfoyeratingfao' throu h sad'collapslblesleeve fo'ri one o saidelernentsrelatii'elyjto.,` eoth'er. f

15. 'In acmachine of "thel charaeterl de-l scribed, the combination of..a frame, a ista f tionary knife, a shaft,-a cutterzmpu'utcdgtla thereon, a supporting element foigsaidighaft er: 'a'cone lbearin mountedon said shaitfan enga. 'ng4 sal flapsigi l l [hf-.and said shafty automatlcall 45. 11.' In'a machine of the clmrncterfdea" immobilizesaid' cone relative y to said shaftfglyi and means olperating through said'collapsibio sleeve fora justing sai nei'elativelyjto specification 4in-'the pregnce 'of `wo sniff;

forfedjnsag one of said nements' leisurely vv557 to'f'the otheroperating through'i'said 4asso# .fciated means.'

inning operatingm lou 

